le_lobey's reviews
341 reviews

Pedro Páramo by Juan Rulfo

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challenging dark mysterious fast-paced
I think I'm a pretty careful reader, but I didn't get this. Excited to discuss with people next week. I'll update after
Near to the Wild Heart by Clarice Lispector

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challenging inspiring mysterious reflective slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

It's so confusing sometimes to be a girl/god/ocean

Incredible writing. Such poetic and rhetorical force.
My Dream Job by Norman Erikson Pasaribu

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emotional funny lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

3.25

There's a lot of pain and mourning in these poems. And the project to imagine other worlds seems tragic, despite the collection's humor.

My favorites were Call Me By Your Name, which is irresponsible and non-meteoric, and Tell Me What Happened

I was also intrigued by the politics of translation, and (I guess) Adrienne Rich's image of otherness and homosexuality as looking into a mirror and seeing nothing.
Salt: A World History by Mark Kurlansky

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informative lighthearted relaxing medium-paced

3.0

Fun book! Reads a bit like trivia, but also with the unspoken thesis that much of world history was caused by, or was at least heavily influenced by, economies of salt. I don't know if I buy it in all cases, but it was certainly interesting to consider. Great vibes, lots of ham, even more fish.
Solaris by Stanisław Lem

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adventurous emotional mysterious reflective tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

I didn't like the lit review aspects of this as much as the drama of the characters, but I understand why he had to include it. Those parts made the world truly alien and weird. And unsettling! I would consider this almost more horror than sci fi — everything is so tense and uncanny.

I will definitely reread this.
New Suns 2: More Original Speculative Fiction by People of Color by Nisi Shawl

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adventurous medium-paced
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

3.25

I really liked these: 
  •  Ocasta by Daniel H. Wilson
  •  Equal Forces Opposed in Exquisite Tension by John Chu 
  •  Silk and Cotton and Linen and Blood by Nghi Vo 
  •  Suppertime by Tananarive Due 
  •  Chosen by Saad Hossain 
  •  Before the Glory of Their Majesties by Minsoo Kang 

Six Four by Hideo Yokoyama

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tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

I really enjoyed the politics in this, both between different police divisions and the press. An interesting window into Japanese working culture, as well as how women fare in the working world there.
The Magnus Protocol by Jonathan Sims, Alexander J. Newall

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dark tense slow-paced

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House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

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adventurous challenging dark mysterious reflective tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Time by Etel Adnan

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challenging reflective slow-paced

4.0

TK